His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance, met today with Mark Read, Chief Executive Officer of WPP, a global leader in marketing and communications services.
During the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum conveyed the UAE’s strategic vision to strengthen its position as an international hub for media and the creative economy. He pointed to the nation’s vibrant business landscape, world-class infrastructure, and future-oriented mindset as key elements attracting leading advertising and marketing agencies. The discussion also addressed how the UAE’s supportive regulatory environment and swift adoption of emerging technologies foster an ecosystem where creativity, innovation, and talent can prosper.
The conversation also emphasised the vital role of Dubai’s media and creative sectors in supporting the broader goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
The meeting further underlined that as Dubai builds towards an innovation-led future, companies such as WPP are instrumental in enabling global, regional, and local brands to expand, engage audiences, and create value. It was noted that Dubai’s strategic focus on smart solutions, digital transformation across industries, diverse talent pool, openness to new ideas, and business-friendly services position it as an ideal base for global marketing firms.
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum reiterated that Dubai and the wider UAE remain committed to supporting WPP’s continued growth and expansion within the country and across the region.
WPP, which generated revenues of £14.7 billion in 2024, oversees several of the world’s largest agency networks, including Ogilvy, VML, GroupM, and AKQA. As of 31 December 2024, the company employed over 108,000 individuals in more than 100 countries. Its operations are organised into four primary areas: communications, including advertising, branding, and public relations; customer experience; commerce, encompassing retail and shopper marketing; and technology, with a focus on data, analytics, and digital transformation.
Also present at the meeting were Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); Malek Al Malek, Chairman of TECOM Group; and Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), a DET affiliate.
